‘Walk in the Dark’ focused on improving Campus security

Houston-

What better way to observe potential campus security problems than to take a
walk in the dark?

That’s exactly what members of the University of Houston community do each
fall. The annual “Walk in the Dark” offers faculty, staff and students the
opportunity to take a guided night tour around campus to inspect areas that
might need additional lighting or bolstered security.

This year’s “Walk in the Dark” will begin at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14 at
the University Center (UC). All faculty, staff and students are invited to
participate. The Student Government Association (SGA), in conjunction with the
UH Department of Public Safety (UHDPS) and Plant Operations, sponsors the
event.

“This is a very productive event,” said Malcolm Davis, UH chief of police and
executive director of public safety. “The university has been very responsive to
observations made during these walks.”

After previous walks, lighting was enhanced and security cameras were
installed across the campus.

“It’s important that we have this event every year,” Davis said. “This campus
is in growth mode. The framework plan is changing the look of the university,
and areas that seemed okay last year may have changed.”

Scheduled participants include members of SGA, UHDPS officers and members of
the Plant Operations team including grounds, lighting and building maintenance
personnel, project managers and directors.

“We want members from every corner of the community to attend this event,”
Davis said. “What I see on campus and what a student sees might be two different
things. It’s important that we hear different suggestions and see potential
security flaws from different perspectives.”

Following the “Walk in the Dark,” shuttle buses will be available to pick up
participants and return them to the starting point at the UC.

For more information about this year’s walk, call UHDPS at 713-743-3333.